Coastal Geography Basics

Overview

This 45-minute lesson introduces Year 6 students to coastal geography, aligning with the National Curriculum for England: Geography programmes of study for key stage 2. The aim is to build foundational knowledge of coastlines, their types, and significance, setting up a scaffold for the entire unit "Coastal Wonders Unveiled."

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National Curriculum Links

Geography - Key Stage 2

• Pupils should be taught to:
  • Investigate and name some of the world’s seas and oceans and learn how to use maps and atlases to locate them (Locational Knowledge).
  • Describe and understand key aspects of physical geography, including: coasts, and the features of different types of coastlines (Place knowledge & Physical geography).
  • Use fieldwork to observe, measure and record geographical features in the local area using a range of methods, including sketch maps, plans, graphs and digital technologies (Geographical skills and fieldwork).

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will:

1. Define coastal geography and explain why coastal areas are important.
2. Identify and describe different types of coastlines (e.g., sandy, rocky, estuaries).
3. Recognise key features of coastlines such as beaches, cliffs, bays, and headlands.
4. Begin to use geographical vocabulary relating to coasts confidently.

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Resources Needed

• World map and UK map (printed or projected)
• Images or photo pack of various coastline types
• Whiteboard and markers
• Laminated key vocabulary cards
• Coastal feature labels for an interactive matching activity
• Worksheet: “Name that Coastline” with pictures for group work
• Timer or stopwatch
• Interactive quiz on tablets or printed quiz sheets
• Large paper and colouring pencils for quick sketching activity

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction (7 minutes)

• Engage: Show a short, captivating video or slideshow of different coastal scenes (waves crashing, sandy beaches, cliffs).
• Discuss: Ask the class – what do you know about coasts? What do you think makes a coast special?
• Explain: Introduce the term ‘coastal geography’ - the study of coasts, how they form, and why they are important for people and nature. Write the definition on the board.

2. Key Vocabulary and Features (10 minutes)

• Introduce key terms: coast, coastline, beach, cliff, bay, headland, estuary.
• Use laminated cards and images to show examples of each feature.
• Interactive whiteboard activity: pupils come up and match vocabulary cards to coastline photos.
• Reinforce with collective repetition and simple sentences using the vocabulary.

3. Types of Coastlines (10 minutes)

• Explain the main types of coastlines typically found in the UK and globally: sandy, rocky, estuaries/deltas.
• Use maps to locate UK coastal areas famous for each type (e.g., sandy beaches in Norfolk, cliffs in Cornwall).
• Group activity: in small groups, pupils receive mixed images of coastlines and match them to the type category on a worksheet.
• Groups briefly present one feature they found interesting.

4. Why Are Coasts Important? (8 minutes)

• Brainstorm as a class: What various roles do coasts play? Prompt with categories: homes for animals, places for holidays, shipping routes, natural defenses (like cliffs or dunes).
• Write pupils’ ideas on the board clustered under three headings: Ecological, Economic, Social/Cultural.
• Teacher adds true facts to supplement pupils’ answers.

5. Wrap-Up and Formative Assessment (8 minutes)

• Quick sketch task: pupils draw and label a simple coastline with a beach, cliff, bay, and headland.
• Exit quiz: Either a short Kahoot-style quiz on tablets or a paper quiz with 5 questions (multiple choice and short answers) to review key vocabulary and concepts.
• Collect sketches and completed quizzes for informal assessment.

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Differentiation

• Provide sentence starters and vocabulary prompts for pupils who need additional support.
• Challenge more able pupils by asking them to suggest other coastline features or explain why some coasts are sandy vs rocky.

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Homework Idea

Ask pupils to visit a local shoreline, beach, or even look at pictures online and write five sentences describing the coastline, using at least three vocabulary words from the lesson.

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Teacher’s Notes

• Encourage curiosity by connecting the lesson to pupils’ real-life experiences—holidays, visits to the seaside.
• Use questioning techniques to prompt higher-order thinking: “Why do you think cliffs are made of rock, but beaches are sandy?”
• Consider using tactile materials (small "beaches" with sand or pebbles in trays) in the next lesson for hands-on coastal feature investigation.

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This lesson aligns rigorously with the National Curriculum through introduction of locational knowledge, place knowledge and physical geography relating to coasts, setting high expectations of geographical vocabulary and concept understanding for Year 6 learners.